Several theories of the origin of the text have emerged, but. Christmas 1981 found me in the state of new york, quietly celebrating the. The book of mormon on broadway retains its charms the new. There is a theory out there about how joseph smith came up with some of the place names in the book of mormon by copying and changing slightly a few town names from around where he lived in new york. Some mormon scholars have theorized a derivation from the west semitic root mr. Perego, the book of mormon and the origin of native americans from a maternally inherited dna standpoint, in no weapon shall prosper. As early as 1831, eber howe, in his antimormon book mormonism unvailed, noted the use of names desolation and bountiful from pilgrims progress reappear in the book of mormon. It use was started by those who were against joseph smith and was meant to be a derogatory term. These deficiencies of negative evidence persist, for the most part, but they should not distract attention from the scores of other unusual items mentioned in the book which have been confirmed through. Nicknames and dysphemisms in the bible and ancient mediterranean. But, there are also egyptian names in the book of mormon, as well as a semitic name related to arabic.
Book of mormonplagiarism accusationsplace names from. The plates contained the book of mormon, the secret history of a native people of. Many of the names and places didnt exist in the late 1820s, and they are in the wrong locations relative to one another. Dec 28, 2018 one of the best ways to test the book of mormons historical authenticity is to look at its names. In this book are a number of future book of mormon names, which appeared within alphabetized lists. Persuitte thinks that this geographical setting provides evidence that joseph smith wrote the book of mormon. Apr 03, 2020 mormon church established in fayette, new york, joseph smith, founder of the the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, organizes the church of christ during a meeting with a small group of. New york cnn first came the popular broadway musical the book of mormon, which won nine tony awards on sunday now, the actual mormon church is hitting the great white way, with a big electronic billboard just around the corner from where the book of. Some names in the book of mormon do have hebrew derivations and meanings to them, so far as they can be recovered at the present. Persuitte accepts the geographical correspondences worked out by vernal holley.
In the book of mormon, the brother of jared is the most prominent person in the account given in the beginning chapters. Some of the town names in new york state and surrounding regions resemble some names in the book of mormon. Mormons believe the following about the book of mormon. From an alternative name for new york used in the doctrine and covenants.
Do names in the book of mormon have a hebrew meaning. The book of mormon and place names from the area around joseph smiths home. There are more than two dozen book of mormon names that are the same as or nearly the same as modern geographical locations. Many lds assume that this is evidence that joseph smith could not have made up the book of mormon.
Many also are unaware of some rather surprising new discoveries supporting the book of mormon which have been brought about by the advanced methods of science. The supposed ancient american prophet of mormon theology whom mormons believe compiled the book of mormon. We recommend booking etickets tickets ahead of time to secure your spot. As the first governor of utahhe preferred the mormon name.
Some mormon name trends include using religious, ancestral, invented, themed names and a. From those plates, he later translated the book of mormon by the gift and power of god. There is a theory out there about how joseph smith came up with some of the place names in the book of mormon by copying and changing slightly a few town. It was at this time that the history of mormonism as a movement and a church began. Now in an expanded and revised second edition incorporating many new findings relating to the origin of the book of mormon, mr. We see the book of mormon city kishkumen located near an area named, on modern maps, as kiskiminetas. Many book of mormon names are either biblical, formed from a rhyming pattern. It was first published in 1830 in palmyra, new york, and was thereafter widely reprinted and translated. There are several theories as to the origin of the book of mormon. Zenos was in use prior to the book of mormon as a persons name. Joseph smith, the mormon prophet, was born in the village of sharon, windsor county, vermont, december 23, 1805. The book of mormons most spectacular recorded event was a postresurrection appearance of jesus christ himself among the nephite people 3 nephi 11. Shortly after the book of mormon was published, joseph smith received a divine commandment to organize the church of christ, as the mormon church was.
Nov 15, 2007 the use of mormon as a nickname for the church originated in the mid1800s around 18301840 and is derived from the book of mormon. Examples of authentic ancient book of mormon names a. Apologists note that many of the proper names in the book of mormon. It turns out that a good number of them have plausible links with words or names in ancient near eastern languages, especially with hebrew and egyptian. Mormons trace their origins to the visions that joseph smith reported he had in the early 1820s while living in upstate new york. Notes on the book of mormon names zeezrom and jershon.
In the text of the book of mormon, cumorah is a hill located in a land of the same name. Miraculous origins theories generally accept joseph smiths own account, that he translated an ancient record compiled and abridged by mormon, a precolumbian resident of the western hemisphere. In early 1830, an unknown farmer in upstate new york burst upon the worlds bookpublishing scene. Book of mormon names, even though egyptian in origin, would be unusual in that. The city teancum is near the city desolation in the book of mormon mormon 4. The city and land of desolation is on the east coast, near the narrow neck of land see alma 22. This book was a common household reference in young joseph smith s time and place. The mormons believe in polygamy, and their hierarchy of apostles, etc. Mormon church established in fayette, new york, joseph smith, founder of the the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, organizes the. Zenos riggs is listed in the 1873 hanover, new jersey census. Jul 08, 2007 some of the town names in new york state and surrounding regions resemble some names in the book of mormon.
Besides smith himself, there were at least 11 witnesses who said they saw the plates in 1829, and three also claiming to have been visited by an angel. The book of mormon rolled off the grandin press in palmyra, new york, with joseph smith listed as author and proprietor on the title page. Naturalistic explanations of the origin of the book of. New york cnn first came the popular broadway musical the book of mormon, which won nine tony awards on sunday now, the actual mormon church is hitting the great white way, with a big electronic billboard just around the corner from where the book of mormon is playing. The name of the last nephite prophet and the son of mormon in the book of mormon. Book of mormonplagiarism accusationsplace names from north. The rise of mormonism the historical outline of the book of mormon the proposition stated. Since the dates are somewhat flexible in language evolution, one may safely say that old english beginnings are contemporary with the alleged completion of the book of mormon by moroni, the son of mormon.
A possible origin could be that in the bible, cain. Cumorah is a drumlin in manchester, new york, united states, where joseph smith said he found a set of golden plates which he translated into english and published as the book of mormon. Roberts concluded that this book, originally published in poultney, vermont in 1823 7 years prior to the book of mormon was available to joseph smith and contained enough parallel material to the book of mormon so as to furnish a virtual groundplan for it. The use of mormon as a nickname for the church originated in the mid1800s around 18301840 and is derived from the book of mormon. The most common belief of adherents is that promoted by joseph smith, who said he translated ancient golden plates inscribed by prophets. He was resurrected after his death and became an angel. Naturalistic explanations of the origin of the book of mormon. These hits provide additional evidence that the book of mormon is indeed an ancient record.
Today, mormons use the book of mormon in much the same way that christians use and study the bible. The book of mormon was finished in midsummer of 1829 and published in palmyra, new york, in march of 1830. One of the best ways to test the book of mormons historical authenticity is to look at its names. It develops the history of two separate groups of jews who migrated from jerusalem to the americas, and presents the record of a much earlier race, which came to. May 22, 2019 some names in the book of mormon do have hebrew derivations and meanings to them, so far as they can be recovered at the present. Many book of mormon names are either biblical, formed from a rhyming pattern, changed by a prefix or suffix, or greek in etymology. I could not find a location named antum in new york or pennsylvania either. See all 1 the book of mormon tickets and tours on tripadvisor. As book of mormon takes new york, city gets mormon.
The only exceptions listed are for the book of mormon, the churchs sacred text, and historical names like the mormon trail, a governmentrecognized path that. These book of mormon verses should match the inspired jst version instead of the incorrect kjv version that joseph later fixed. Wilfred griggs, the book of mormon as an ancient book, in book of mormon authorship. Hostile antimormon writing and other abuses grew largely out of the perceived need to supply an alternative explanation for the origin of the book of mormon. It comes from the book of mormon, the churchs signature text the main thing associated with the church that is keeping its name, which adherents believe was recorded on gold plates by the prophet mormon and his son, moroni. Yet, holley places it in ontario, not anywhere near new york and the hill. Antimormon publications the encyclopedia of mormonism. The book of mormon seems specifically designed to answer the sorts of questions which red jacket raised about the relationship between the new world indians and old world christianity. Old world animals and plants, and book of mormon place names and personal names. Tvedtnes and myself, the hebrew origin of some book of mormon place names. In the book of mormon, broadway gets treated to one of its funniest and most irreverent broadway musicals of all time. In 1823, smith said an angel directed him to a buried book written on golden plates containing the religious history of an ancient people.
Aug 21, 2014 on my fourth visit to the book of mormon on a recent night, the show still had me at hello, the first word of the first song in this longrunning musical. Book of mormon, work accepted as holy scripture, in addition to the bible, in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and other mormon churches. The hebrew origin of three book of mormon placenames. Aug 18, 2018 the only exceptions listed are for the book of mormon, the churchs sacred text, and historical names like the mormon trail, a governmentrecognized path that members of the church took from. Hugh nibley, professor emeritus of ancient scripture at brigham young university, has identified many hebrew and egyptian names in the book of mormon. Mormon was the primary author, editor, and compiler of the book of mormon. It turns out that a good number of them have plausible links with words or names in ancient near eastern. Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins.
The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. Its followers hold that it is a divinely inspired work revealed. Yet, these names have meaning in ancient languages andor have been found as actual names from ancient history. Missing indices indicate people in the index who are not in the book of mormon. The word mormon has been with the church from the beginning. Most adherents to the latter day saint movement view the book as a work of inspired scripture. The book of mormon s most spectacular recorded event was a postresurrection appearance of jesus christ himself among the nephite people 3 nephi 11. It is claimed that some book of mormon names are used improperly or in an inappropriate context. Yet, holley places teancum far from the narrow neck. Many book of mormon names are not found in the bible, and were unknown to joseph smith. Nevertheless, since the 1820s scholars have been able to decipher some of that extinct language. In the book of mormon, the prophet abinadi enters the nowwicked city of lehinephi and begins preaching to the people. Variations of this theory only include that the text is a divinely inspired narrative, regardless of its. Religious studies center, brigham young university, 2011, 171217.
If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. Why is the book of mormon named after mormon, who is he. The book of mormon and the origin of native americans from. The original idea behind this proposal was that joseph picked up these place names and locations from a map in order to create his book of mormon geography. There are differing views on the origin of the book of mormon. The hebrew origin of three book of mormon placenames they came down into the land which is called the land of zarahemla. Smith claimed the angel moroni, a prophet in the book of mormon, directed him in the 1820s to a hill near his home in palmyra, new york where the plates were buried. The book of mormon tickets are known to sell out fast, and sameday tickets may not be available. Most of the rest of steinbergs book takes place at hill cumorah, new york, where joseph smith said that hed unearthed the gold tablets of the book of mormon, and where steinberg attempted to. Each of its unique names has now been looked at by scholars with linguistic training. The book of mormon includes mistranslated biblical passages that were later changed in joseph smiths translation of the bible. Thus the lds contends that the book of mormon is another testament of jesus christ. The book of mormon and the origin of native americans from a. The church was first called the church of christ when it was organized on april 6, 1830.
Perhaps a more though historical place name search is needed. Persuittes book continues to shed much new light on the path joseph smith took toward founding the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. On my fourth visit to the book of mormon on a recent night, the show still had me at hello, the first word of the first song in this longrunning musical. The book of mormon contains 337 proper names 188 of these are unique to the book of mormon and 149 are found in the bible. A typical example of the differences between the bom, the kjv, and the jst. One of a christian denomination the church of jesus christ of latterday saints in the united states, followers of joseph smith, who professed to have found an addition to the bible, engraved on golden plates, called the book of mormon, first published in 1830. Archaeological trends and the book of mormon origins byu. The book of mormon new york city 2020 all you need to. As book of mormon takes new york, city gets mormon church. Book of mormon names, even though egyptian in origin, would be unusual in that country today. The book of mormon contains 337 proper names188 of these are unique to the book of mormon and 149 are found in the bible. The early critics focused initially on discrediting the smith family, particularly joseph smith, jr. In the eighteentwenties, in palmyra, new york, a man named joseph.
Many latterday saints have not had access to sources which communicate how recent research has changed our understanding of the book of mormon as an ancient document. Holley presents an impressive list of parallels between place names in the book of mormon and place names in the northeastern united states and canada. See below book of mormon place names compared to actual northeast ussoutheast canada place names. New york historic sites church history the church of jesus. The book of mormon on broadway retains its charms the. However, when we examine the list of names at the end of the book of mormon we notice that. In this section i have relied heavily on the study by john a. His presence causes a great disturbance among the citizens, and abinadi is 1 bound and thrown into prison. Critics believe joseph smith came up with all the names in the book of mormon, noting that joseph owned a king james bible with a table listing all the names used in the bible.
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